Keukeninterieur met twee mannen en twee vrouwen naast een man aan tafel c. 1738

Nicolas de Larmessin III created this print, "Keukeninterieur met twee mannen en twee vrouwen naast een man aan tafel," sometime in the early 18th century using etching. Larmessin lived during a time of rigid social structures in France and was part of a family of printmakers and publishers. The print depicts what seems to be a marriage exchange in a kitchen setting. Two couples are bartering rings under the eye of a seated man, perhaps a notary, at a table. The French inscription below the image suggests that these exchanges were common, despite being scandalous. The image invites us to consider themes of love, class, and social mobility. Notice the women's positioning in the exchange, as they appear to be objects of trade. What does it mean to treat love as a transaction? How does the setting of a kitchen reframe the traditional imagery of marriage? It makes us ask what is gained, what is lost, and who profits in this exchange of vows.